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MONCADA 

SOCIAL  mND  POLITIChL 
INFLUENCE  OF  THE  UN- 
ITED ST/hTES  IN  CENTRmL 
hIVOICh 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


SOCIAL  AND   POLITICAL  INFLUENCE 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES   IN 
CENTRAL  AMERICA 


BY 


J.  M.  MONCADA 

EX-MINISTER  OF  THE  INTERIOR,  NICARAGUA 


TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  SPANISH 

BY 

ALOYSIUS    C.     GAHAN 
OF  THE  NEW  YORK  BAR 


SOCIAL  AND   POLITICAL   INFLUENCE 

OF  THE   UNITED  STATES  IN 

CENTRAL  AMERICA 


BY 


J.  M.  MONCADA 

EX-MINISl  ER  OF  THE  INTERIOR.  NICARAGUA 


TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  SPANISH 

■ 


* 


BY 


ALOYSIUS    C.    GAHAN, 
OF  THE  NEW  YORK  BAR 


.  •  *     .    .    ••  • 


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I  dedicate  this  work  to  the  people  of  the  United  States. 

►_       In  writing  it  I  Lave  sought  inspiration  in  th<'  principles 

of  Washington,  in  the  ideals  of  all  the  founders  of  Amer- 

£       ican  Independence,  and  in  the  broad  spirit  of  the  Monroe 

Doctrine.     There  certainly  never  was  a  period  fitter  to 

serve  as  an  example  and  guide  to  mankind  than  that  time 

when  so  manv  worthy  and  eminent  men  assisted  at  the 

co     birth  of  this  great  republic. 

ic  Let  us  always  remember  their  teachings,  and  work 

incessantly  to  link  the  all-powerful  forces  of  civilization 
to  the  exalted  virtues  of  Washington,  so  that  for  all  tim< 
j^  he  may  be  hailed  as  "the  Father  of  his  country." 

J.  M.  Moncada. 
New  York,  August,  1011. 


£75421 


SOCIAL    AND    POLITICAL    INFLUENCE    OF    THE 
UNITED   STATES    IX    CENTRAL   AMERICA. 


Some  opposition  <wists,  chiefly  on  the  pari  <>f  adher- 
ents of  the  democratic  party  in  the  United  States,  to  the 
policy  of  intervention  by  the  government  at  Washington, 
in  the  internal  affairs  of  Central  America. 

In  like  manner,  the  so-called  liberal  party  in  the  Cen- 
tral American  republics,  rejects  interference  by  the 
United  States,  denouncing  as  traitors  those  who,  either 
secretly  or  openly,  are  favorable  thereto.  The  liberals 
regard  with  distrust  the  protestations  of  the  White 
House,  and  have  no  faith  in  the  declarations  of  Root  and 
other  statesmen  as  to  the  benevolent  intentions  of  the 
United  States.  Those  declarations  are  said  to  be  but 
cloaks  to  cover  cunning  on  the  part  of  the  would-be  con- 
queror, and  made  for  the  purpose  of  lulling  the  intended 
victim  to  sleep. 

II. 

Which  view  is  the  correct  one  and  who  are  the 
patriots? 

Is  the  resistance  of  the  democratic  party  in  the  United 
States,  just  and  civilizing;  and,  reciprocally,  is  the  atti- 
tude of  the  liberal  party  in  the  republics  of  Central  Amer- 
ica, likewise  just  and  civilizing? 


Arc  the  declarations  of  the  government  at  Washing- 
ion  sincere? 

Are  the  people  of  the  United  States  really  brothers  of 
those  of  Centra]  and  South  America,  as  stated  in  docu- 
ment and  ollicial  utterances  emanating  from  the  White 
House? 

Where  can  we  find  the  happy  medium  to  effect  the 
union  of  these  conflicting  currents? 

What  is  the  duty  of  both  sides,  whether  republicans 
or  democrats  in  the  United  States,  and  whether  liberals 
or  conservatives  in  Central  America? 

What  is  the  apparent  trend  of  evolution  in  the  present 
age  and  what  is  the  pole  of  the  United  States? 

III. 

In  order  to  answer  these  questions  correctly,  a  great 
deal  of  good  faith  and  calm  impartiality  are  required. 
Passion  must  be  laid  aside  and  the  mind  elevated  to  lofty 
ideals  for  humanity  in  its  present  stage  of  development. 
The  history  of  mankind  can  shed  light  thonghout  the 
Labyrinth  and  sociology  afford  a  safe  guide. 

Which  view  is  the  correct  one  and  who  are  the 
patriots? 

I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  patriotism  actuates  the 
democratic  party  in  the  United  States;  and  I  also  con- 
ed,, to  the  Liberals  of  Centra]  America  a  like  generous 
sentiment. 

Bui  the  meaning  of  the  word  "fatherland"  has  for 
some  time  been  undergoing  change;  like  all  things  human 
it  is  subject  to  mutation.     Indeed,  it  tends  to  disappear. 


There  are  many  philosophers  and  thinkers  who  find  the 
fatherland  everywhere,  and  who  would  rejoice  to  sec  the 
word  patriotism  synonymous  with  humanity.  In  pur- 
suance of  tin's  philosophy,  one  might  be  guilty  of  the 
anachronism  of  reasoning  and  judging  in  conformity  with 
the  ideas  and  social  spirit  of  antiquity  which  were,  un- 
doubtedly, quite  different  from  the  ideas  and  social  senti- 
ment of  the  present  epoch. 

The  soul  of  the  nations,  precarious  and  bounded  in  its 
horizon  by  the  limits  of  the  land  in  past  ages,  undergoes 
continual  transformation,  developing  and  widening  as 
frontiers  are  gained  and  overleaped;  in  which  process 
prejudices  are  eradicated  and  national  and  racial  differ- 
ences destroyed.  It  is  slowly  progressing  towards  a  uni- 
versal objective ;  varying  ideals  are  being  transmuted  and 
fused  into  one  grand  conception,  a  supereminently  human 
ideal,  namely,  the  universal  brotherhood  of  man. 

The  old  patriotism,  narrow  and  egotistic,  had  its  roots 
deeply  implanted  within  the  confines  of  the  state.  It 
mapped  out  frontiers  whose  lines  were  impassible.  The 
patria  for  which  the  Greeks  and  Romans  fought  is  not 
similar  to  the  patriotic  sentiment  entertained  to-day,  at 
least  by  the  enlightened  portion  of  the  human  race,  and 
this  is  the  portion  which,  in  the  long  run,  leads  and  directs 
the  states. 

It  was  Rome  which  first* set  the  noble  example  of 
carrying  beyond  the  frontiers  and  enlarging  the  idea  of 
the  fatherland,  so  that  it  embraced  the  conquered  na- 
tions. Thus  the  idea  of  justice  was  extended,  the  for- 
eigner being  granted  rights  of  citizenship  while  his  gods 
were  transported  to  the  Roman  Pantheon.     In  this  way 


6 

Borne  attained   proportions  surpassing  in  grandeur  all 
the  nations  of  antiquity. 

The  origin,  development  and  apogee  of  Koine  greatly 
resemble  the  origin,  development  and  apogee  of  the  United 
States.  The  colony  on  the  Tiber  began  like  the  colony 
at  Plymouth  Rock.  When  the  Roman  republic  was  trans- 
forming itself  into  an  empire,  Julius  Ceasar  was  assas- 
sinated. So,  too,  in  the  United  States,  was  McKinley. 
Rome  decayed  and  perished  through  its  system  of  cen- 
tralized empire;  and  the  United  States  of  America  should 
always  bear  in   mind  this  great  example  of  history. 

IV. 

It  may  be  said  without  fear  of  contradiction  that  in 
the  present  state  of  the  world,  frontiers  are  artificial, 
people  of  various  nationalities  mingle  and  commingle 
with  one  another,  and  certain  nations  have  an  influence 
upon  certain  others.  Everything  in  the  land  travels  to- 
day, thought,  speech,  being  and  things;  so  that  a  policy 
of  non-interference  has  become  impossible.  The  illness 
of  a  nation  ; i fleets  its  neighbors  within  a  few  hours.  The 
pulse  of  the  United  States,  for  example,  is  felt  instantly 
in  France,  England  or  Germany.  The  idea,  the  spark 
thai  springs  into  existence  here,  illuminates  the  Old 
World,  and  the  spirit  of  the  latter  has,  in  its  turn,  an 
influence  upon  the  mind  and  heart  of  the  New. 

Human  society  is  an  organism,  similar  in  character 
to  the  individual  body.  It  has  arteries,  veins,  lungs, 
members,  vessels  and  cells.  If  we  touch  any  part  of  the 
body,  the  braiB  instantly  feels  the  effect;  and  in  the  same 


way,  human  society,  as  an  organism,  feels  all  impressions 
or  changes  taking  place  among  the  individual  members 
of  the  human  family. 

A  world-soul,  a  composite  of  all  souls  and  minds  and 
consciences,  is  in  process  of  formation.  It  is  the  great, 
supreme  result  of  discoveries  and  of  increased  facilities 
for  communication.  This  process  of  evolution  had  its 
birth  in  the  discovery  of  America,  and  has  developed  with 
great  energy,  particularly  in  the  newly  discovered  land 
of  North  America,  itself,  because  the  United  States  has 
been  the  greatest  contributor  to  this  wonderful  human 
fellowship. 

When  the  genius  of  Fulton  applied  steam  to  naviga- 
tion, and  Franklin,  with  his  own  hands,  caught  the  thun- 
derbolts of  Jupiter,  then  it  was  that  the  arteries,  nerves, 
vessels  and  cells  of  the  organism  of  humanity  were 
created.  The  United  States,  therefore,  are  entitled  to 
leadership  in  the  domain  of  modern  progress.  It  is  their 
mission,  and  no  one  can  dispute  it.  May  they  inspire  us 
with  courage  by  illuminating  the  path  that  leads  to  the 
grand  goal  of  universal  brotherhood ! 

The  locomotive  also  extended  and  widened  the  social 
current.  Men,  things,  ideas,  books,  all  found  means  of 
rapid  transportation.  Altho  the  English  were  the  first 
to  stretch  the  rails  upon  the  surface  of  the  earth,  the 
United  States  applied  them  upon  a  vast  scale.  While 
the  English  were  doubting  and  vacillating,  and  even 
cursing  the  invention,  the  Americans  devoted  themselves 
to  perfecting  it  and  opening  large  railways.  Within  a 
few  years  in  the  United  States  mountains  were  cleft  and 
entire  forests  cut  through  to  give  passage  to  the  locomo- 


8 

live.  This  is  the  origin  of  the  prosperity  of  the  United 
Stales.  It  was  an  American,  also,  who  first  communi- 
cated  thought  by  means  of  the  telegraph;  and  another 
American  whose  invention  enables  us  to  send  speech 
through  the  telephone.  These  two  great  men  opened  thfe 
w;i\  to  human  society  for  spiritual  communication.  The 
formation  of  the  world-soul  was  thus  begun. 

These  constitute  the  true  sources  of  modern  progress, 
and  can  be  referred  to  as  the  evident  cause  of  the  more 
intimate  intercourse  of  the  nations  of  the  earth  with  one 
another.  Wireless  telegraphy  is  also  adding  strength  to 
the  bo uds  of  brotherhood,  and  aerial  navigation  will  give 
a  happy  finish  to  the  work. 

What  thus  redounds  to  the  honor  of  the  United  States, 
reflects  honor,  likewise,  upon  the  new  world,  and  when 
racial  and  national  differences  are  completely  obliterated 
the  honor  shall  belong  to  the  entire  world. 

These  being  unite  evident  truths,  we  may  answer  the 
first  question  by  saying  that  the  democrats  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  liberals  of  Central  America,  are  working 
contrary  to  civilization  and  are  seeking  the  impossible. 

Both  democrats  and  liberals  have  become  conserva- 
tives without  knowing  it.  In  advocating  the  policy  of 
Qon-interference,  they  are  spreading  a  selfish,  unpatriotic 
and  inhuman  sentiment.  I  think,  nevertheless,  that  they 
are  sincere,  and  I  trust  that  sooner  or  later  they  will 
acknowledge  their  error  and  contribute  with  all  their 
energies  to  the  promotion  of  general  harmony. 


V. 

I  propose  to  consider  in  this  section,  the  second  ques- 
tion: Are  the  declarations  of  the  governmenl  at  Wash- 
ington sincere?  Is  its  aim  conquest,  the  seizure  of  lands 
by  cunning  or  by  force? 

Was  the  speech  of  Root  in  South  America  a  loyal 
and  reliable  promise  on  the  pari  of  the  United  States 
Government?  Will  the  successors  of  Secretary  Root  keep 
the  pledge  given  by  him? 

At  the  outset,  it  must  be  stated  that  politicians  can 
promise  nothing,  unless  they  possess  absolute  knowledge 
of  the  laws  of  evolution  and  proceed  in  accordance  with 
those  laws.  Social  forces  may  within  a  decade  deride  the 
promises  of  men,  unless  those  promises  were  uttered  at  a 
time  when  the  eye  was  watchful  and  the  judgment  calm. 
It  is  for  this  reason  that  revolutionary  programmes,  and 
revolutions  themselves,  often  fail,  the  people  not  being 
prepared  for  the  change. 

Nevertheless,  the  form  of  evolution  visible  in  the 
United  States  of  America,  stamps  the  words  of  Root  with 
the  impress  of  truth,  and  through  the  operation  and  de- 
velopment of  present  forces  and  currents,  Root's  suc- 
cessors will  find  themselves  obliged  to  uphold  his  doc- 
trine, somewhat  in  the  same  way  as  the  Monroe  doctrine 
had  to  be  maintained. 

For,  if  the  declarations  of  the  American  Government 
be  insincere,  its  political  plan  must  necessarily  involve 
the  conversion  of  the  United  States  into  a  centralized  em- 
pire similar  to  that  of  Rome.  The  building  of  the 
Tana  ma    Canal    would    mean    the    laying    down    of    the 


10 

s  uthera  frontier  of  the  great  empire,  while  the  fondling 
of  Canada,  as  exhibited  at  present,  would  be  the  seeking 
of  tlif  pole  for  the  northern  limit. 

But  may  not  the  Government  at  Washington  hope,  on 
the  Other  hand,  to  unite  all  of  the  nationalities,  from  the 
pole  to  the  canal,  in  the  same  manner  as  that  in  which 
the  different  shies  of  the  American  Union  are  now  exist- 
ing and  prospering  in  a  marvellous  degree? 

\\'hi<h  of  these  two  paths  is  the  American  Govern- 
ment ostensibly  following? 

We  reply  that  the  second  course  is,  undoubtedly,  the 
chosen  path,  adopted  ns  ;t  matter  of  necessity  and  through 
the  inexorable  law  of  evolution.  The  facts  are  in  mani- 
fest accord  with  t he  grand  law. 

The  indep<  ndence  of  Cuba  and  tin1  obligation  imposed 
upon  the  new  republic  of  maintaining  a  succession  of  law- 
ful and  pacific  governments;  the  exalting-  of  Porto  Rico, 
;iml  the  liberty  which  it  now  enjoys  similar  in  all  re- 
spects  to  that  of  the  United  States;  the  progress  of  Santo 
Domingo,  and  the  good  faith  with  which  the  government 
at  Washington  rescued  it  from  its  late  economic  crisis;  the 
work  at  Panama,  so  palpable  and  eloquent;  and  the  im- 
provements in  the  Philippine  Islands,  are,  all  of  them, 
the  very  suggestive  facts. 

Many  persons  of  Latin  America  arrive  at  different  con- 
clusions from  these  facts.  According  to  some,  Cuba  is 
certain  to  continue  its  existence  as  a  Spanish-speaking 
country.  It  would  have  been  able,  they  say,  to  secure  its 
independence  through  its  own  efforts,  although  it  is  now 
destroying  itself  by  civil  strife,  like  the  republics  of  Cen- 
tral America,  Spain  never  having  known  how  to  educate 


11 

her  colonics  for  self-government.  Others  maintain  that 
it  would  be  better  if  Panama  were  in  the  hands  of  Co- 
lombia, and  i  hat  the  Canal  will  cause  serious  damage  to 
Spanish  America. 

But  such  ideas  are  not  sound.  The  world  required 
the  canal,  and  when  Colombia  refused  to  make  any  treaty 
with  the  United  States,  passions  were  running  high  in 
Colombia  and  led  her  to  do  wrong.  The  belt  of  land, 
whether  purchased  or  presented,  was  a  necessity  for  com- 
munication between  the  two  oceans.  The  progress  of  tin 
world  could  not  brook  prejudice  through  the  folly  of  a 
people  to  whom  the  high  destiny  of  humanity  and  the 
enterprise  required  by  the  nations  for  their  material  and 
spiritual  existence  were  incomprehensible. 

This  civilization,  clamorous,  bewildering,  and  produc- 
tive of  change  in  all  things,  is  inherent  in  our  \ery  selves, 
and  grows  with  the  land  in  which  we  had  our  birth.  To 
civilization  we  are  indebted  for  all  that  we  are,  and  it  is 
the  criterion  of  high  spirits  and  great  minds. 

Cuba  lost  nothing  by  accepting  the  generous  hand 
which  the  American  people  extended  to  her  in  the  hour  of 
her  birth  into  republican  life.  All  beings  and  all  nations 
must  pass  through  a  period  of  infancy  during  which  they 
need  wise,  prudent  and  energetic  direction.  It  is  true 
that  they  might,  of  their  own  vitality,  reach  the  stage  of 
maturity,  but  this  could  be  accomplished  only  by  passing 
through  a  long  period  of  sanguinary  strife,  as  was  the 
case  with  France,  England,  Italy,  and  as  is  now  happen- 
ing to  the  unfortunate  states  of  Central  America.  Na- 
tions to-day  powerful,  such  as  England,  France,  Germany 
and  others,  cannot  throw  the  first  stone  at  Central  Ainer- 


12 

ica;  and  if  the  people  of  the  United  States  would  but  re- 
member  the  sorrows  of  Washington,  and  the  supplications 
of  Franklin  in  Congress,  they  would  be  just  towards  their 
brethreD  of  Central  America  in  their  uncertain  steps  on 
the  difficult   road  of  republicanism  and  liberty. 

Latin  publicists  say  that  the  race  is  dying'  out;  that 
the  mother  tongue  is  disappearing;  that  the  Saxon  is 
triumphant,  ami  that  the  dominion  of  the  world  belongs 
1. 1  him.  Lei  come  what  must!  The  empires  of  Augustus 
and  of  Constantine  the  Great  are  mouldering  in  the  dust. 
All  things  change;  but  all  the  elements  of  past  ages, 
spiritual  and  material,  are  living  to-day  in  the  modern 
organism,  and  existing  civilization  is  the  result  and  sum 
of  i  la-  civilizations  of  the  past.  Our  spirits  are  illumined 
by  pays  that  had  their  birth  in  Greece  and  Egypt,  and  at 
the  remoter  hearth  of  the  Aryan  people  from  whom  we 
sprang. 

Who  can  arrest  the  progress  of  events  or  halt  the  rao- 
tion  of  things?  The  very  sun  is  not  stationary  in  the 
centre  of  the  solar  system,  but  carries  us  travelling  along 
with  it  towards  the  Constellation  of  Hercules.  In  this 
manner  we  are  travelling  towards  the  sun  of  humanity, 
which  shall  ultimately  shine  in  resplendent  beauty  at  the 
end  of  the  r.nt  mies.  Let  us  learn  to  love  the  future  as 
we  do  the  past,  thus  inducing  a  conditon  of  harmony. 

VI. 

Whither,  Mien,  is  the  American  Government  tending? 
When  we  consider  the  federal  form  of  government  and 
contemplate  He'  visible  forces  of  evolution  in  the  United 
States,  we  are  compelled  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is  on 


13 

the  road  leading  to  I  lie  federalization  of  all  of  North 
America;  and  thai  this  greal  objecl  is  the  guiding  star  by 
which  we  are  led,  whet  her  or  not  we  are  conscious  of  the 
fact. 

What  could  he  more  beautiful?  Conld  the  soul  of 
man  entertain  the  smallest  feeling  of  dislike  towards  this 
marvellous  desicU  ratumf 

The  great  Republic  was  established  upon  a  federal 
basis.  The  different  states  are  independent  as  far  as  is 
necessary,  and  it  is  upon  this  fact  that  the  stability  of 
the  nation  rests.  Just  as  soon  as  it  is  sought  to  estab- 
lish a  centralized  government,  the  decadence  of  the  nation 
will  begin,  and  the  United  States  will  fall  as  Rome  fell. 

The  reason  is  scientific:  the  law  of  the  matter  is  now 
accepted  as  mathematical.  The  great  human  aspiration 
is  welfare,  and  mankind  is  happier  and  freer  according 
as  power  is  decentralized,  while  individual  liberty  is, 
relatively,  maintained.  We  all  wish  to  enjoy  the  quantity 
of  aii-  and  sunlight  necessary  to  life,  and  we  like  to  be 
paid  the  price  of  our  labor.  These  vital  conditions  are 
admirably  adjusted  in  the  United  States. 

Decentralization  is  a  problem  which  is  regulated  by  a 
supreme  law,  governing  like  the  law  of  gravitation.  This 
supreme  law  adapts  itself  singularly  to  the  government 
of  states.  The  celestial  mechanic  lent  His  laws  to  the 
social  mechanic.  Our  planetary  system  presents  us,  in- 
deed, with  a  very  striking  example,  bringing  to  mind  im- 
mediately the  federal  system  of  government. 

After  cataclysms  attended  by  chaos,  the  planets  were 
organized  into  a  sort  of  federation,  which  they  maintain 
in  a  state  of  perpetual  equilibrium,  in  singular  harmony, 


14 


each  retaining  its  relative  independence  while  revolving 
around  the  sun.  the  centre  of  the  system.  This  magna 
charta,  this  law.  of  universal  gravitation,  is  not  an  abso- 
lute sovereignty.  If  il  were,  the  equilibrium  would  be  at 
once  dest roved,  and  the  stars  would  fall  upon  one  an- 
other, like  the  nations  of  the  earth  when  one  of  them 
seeks  id  enslave  its  fellow. 

Absolutism  in  government  has  not  proved  durable 
upon  i ln's  earth,  and  never  will.  Every  territorial  con- 
quest requires  a  new  and  additional  force  in  the  central 
power,  and  these  forces  uniting  and  increasing,  cause  the 
gradual  degeneration  of  the  government  into  a  tyranny 
which  tin-  citizens  cannot  endure,  and  discontent  and  re- 
bellion supervene.  The  Eussian  empire  is  again  giving 
to  the  world  this  grand,  severe  lesson. 

The  pressure  increasing,  and  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
muniiv  daily  losing  ground,  individuals  begin  to  pull 
upon  the  chain,  and  sooner  or  later  the  chain  snaps. 

I  assume  that  the  United  States  desires  to  perpetuate 
itself  ;in  a  nation,  and  that  its  statesmen  will  be  mindful 
to  conserve  the  federation. 

I,  therefore,  answer  the  second  question  by  saying  that 
Root  spoke  the  truth  and  that  the  United  States  cannot 
desire  territorial  conquest.  It  surely  cannot  wish  to  con- 
tract ;i  mortal  illness  and  pass  on  to  death,  like  other 
empires  which  have  sunk  below   the  historical  horizon. 

In  the  United  States  the  federal  government  is  the 
centre  of  the  system.  The  different  states  revolve,  so  to 
speak,  around  the  American  sun,  each  state  retaining  its 
independence,  character  and  individual  laws. 


15 


I  <1<i  noi  know  whether  American  statesmen  appreci- 
ate these  truths  and  whether  they  proceed  in  accordance 
with  them.  The  laws  of  evolution,  however,  being  inex- 
orable, ii  mailers  little  whether  they  do  or  not.  No  one 
can  prevent  the  operation  of  these  laws,  and  the  political 
partj  thai  attempts  to  do  so  is  working  against  humanity 
and  <-i\  ili/.ai  ion. 

VII. 

From  another  point  of  view,  it  may  be  stated,  in  the 
[ighl  of  human  history,  that  the  policy  of  non-intervention 

was  always  an  impossibility  in  this  world.  All  the  na- 
i ions  of  Europe,  before  the  middle  ages,  throughout  the 
course  of  those  uncultured  centuries,  and  after  the  renais- 
sance, lived  in  a  state  of  constant  warfare,  sometimes  for 
the  purpose  of  involving  one  nation  in  the  destiny  of  an- 
other, sometimes  with  the  object  of  carrying  beliefs  or 
idolatries  to  distant  lands,  or,  again,  to  sustain  this  or 
that  prince  on  the  throne  of  his  forefathers,  or,  perhaps, 
a  usurper  on  the  throne  of  another. 

It  is  needless  to  turn  over  the  pages  of  the  history  of 
Frame,  England,  Spain  or  Germany.  It  is  enough  to 
recall  the  intervention  of  the  Powers  for  the  independ- 
ence of  Greece  and  the  intervention  of  the  United  States 
to  secure  the  independence  of  Cuba.  The  facts,  therefore, 
are  written  upon  the  universal  conscience. 

The  temperament  of  mankind,  as  well  as  that  of  na- 
tions, cannot  contain  itself  within  bounds  of  neutrality 
and  indifference.  And  if  this  element  of  human  nature 
could  not  restrain  itself  when  correspondence  required 
months  and  sometimes  years  to  reach  its  destination,  at  a 


16 


time  when  books  were  few,  and  there  was  no  telegraph, 
or  steamships  <>r  railways,  much  less  can  it  contain  itself 
in  this  age  when  the  greal  and  manifold  sensitiveness  of 
ciety  is  a  complete  organism,  endowed  with  nerves, 
arteries,  hearl  and  brain,  that  is  to  say,  with  a  conscious 
soul.  England  moves  against  the  Transvaal;  Russia 
against  Turkey  or  Japan;  even  Nicaragua,  seemingly  so 
isolated  from  the  rest  of  the  world,  suffers  convulsions, 
and  every  civilized  country  palpitates  simultaneously  de- 
Biring  the  triumph  of  either  one  side  or  the  other,  or 
seeking  the  intervention  of  the  Powers  to  arrest  the  inci- 
dental slaughter.  The  pains,  pleasures  and  desires  of  hu- 
manity, arc  expressed  through  vibrating  or  spiritual 
movements  traveling  unimpeded  from  one  end  of  the  land 
to  the  other.  Who  in  the  world  was  not  interested  in  the 
liberty  of  Dreyfus? 

In  the  days  of  Washington  or  of  Lincoln,  for  example, 
although  Cuba  might  have  agitated  to  secure  its  independ- 
ence, i  he  American  government  would  never  have  inter- 
fered in  its  war  against  Spain,  because  the  different 
states  of  the  Union  would  not  have  desired  such  action. 
Nevertheless,  the  truly  prophetic  doctrine  of  Monroe  had 
taken  pool  in  the  national  soul  of  the  United  States.  This 
doctrine  was  cherished,  as  are  all  great  principles  of 
government,  because  it  was  the  expression  of  the' senti- 
ment and  aspiration,  at  first  latent,  but  subsequently  tan- 
gible, of  the  people  of  the  United  States,  based  upon  the 
imperious  necessity  of  protecting  the  New  World  from 
conquest  by  Europe. 

How  we  have  grieved  and  suffered,  because  the  states 
df  the  north   were  compelled  to  meet  in  bloody  conflict 


17 

their  kindred  of  the  south,  and  because  Mexico  and  Cen- 
tra] America  have  been  passing  on  from  one  Calvary  to 
another.  No  matter!  Ii  is  the  inevitable  law  of  human- 
ity, which  was  not  born  wise,  to  learn  by  cruel  experience, 
falling  first  upon  its  knees  in  order  to  rise  again  and  lift 
its  brow  toward  heaven.  For  this  reason  ii  is  thai  those 
who  censure  the  fall  of  the  people  of  Central  America 
and  call  them  ungovernable,  display  bul  narrowness  of 
soul  and  crass  ignorance.  Far  better  were  it  to  extend  a 
fraternal  hand  to  those  republics  which  are  struggling  to 
establish  stable  government,  in  the  same  way  as  England 
struggled  in  the  olden  days  of  conflicl  between  the  houses 
of  York  and  Lancaster,  reaching  finally  a  stage  of  wisdom 
and  prudence  satisfactory  to  itself,  or  as  France,  Italy 
and  Germany  straggled  with  a  similar  object  in  view. 

Judging   from   the   facts,   the   policy   of   the   United"" 
States  with  respect    to    Central  America,  seems    to    be 
fraternal.     The  United  States  have  at  least  treated  ns  in 
a  more  generous  spirit  than  that  displayed  by  our  sister. 
Mexico. 

But  the  Government  <>f  the  United  States  sometimes 
makes  mistakes  in  the  manner  of  its  procedure  with  refer- 
ence to  Central  America.  For  instance,  in  the  year  1906, 
it  could  by  its  mere  wish  have  prevented  the  unjustifiable 
war  which  Zelaya  brought  against  Honduras.  In  the 
majority  of  eases,  an  unequivocal  declaration  from  the 
White  House  would  suffice  to  prevent  cruel  and  fruitless 
bloodshed.  The  American  <  iovernment  could  declare  that 
it  wants  peace  in  Central  America,  and  that  in  order  to 
have  peace  there,  it  would  employ  such  means  as  civiliza- 
tion might  suggest,  even  force  if  necessary. 


L8 

It  could  also  refuse  to  recognize  any  government  re- 
sulting from  military  coups  or  from  elections  attended  by 
manifest  violence,  simple  denial  of  recognition  would 
in  these  cases  be  sufficient,  because  our  governments  by 
reason  of  their  weakness,  need  a  strong  protecting  hand 
to  assisl  them  in  their  entrance  into  the  concert  of  civil- 
ized governments. 

It  is  not  because  they  are  incapable  of  governing" 
themselves  that  the  republics  of  Central  America  stand 
in  need  of  such  declarations,  for  they  are  no  exception  to 
other  nations  in  the  history  of  mankind,  but  because  mod- 
ern improvements  and  means  of  prosperity  have  so  mul- 
tiplied in  the  United  States,  that  the  advantages  of  the 
hitter  in  comparison  with  those  of  <  Vntral  America  are  as 
a  hundred  to  one.  The  United  States  travel  by  steam  and 
electricity,  while  the  republics  of  Central  America  travel 
in  an  old  carl  drawn  by  weary  oxen.  Hence,  the  enormous 
disproportion,  and  the  dissatisfaction  arising  from  the 
fact  that  the  people  of  the  United  States  do  not  stop  to 
insider  the  injustice  of  requiring  from  our  people  what 
t hey  are  unable  to  give. 

I,  therefor  n.   for   I   am  thoroughly  penetrated 

with  the  belief,  thai  what  we  need  most  is  economic  aid, 
coupled  with  that  which  would  be  derived  from  practical 
schools.  Assistance  of  this  character  would  carry  with 
it  an  unobtrusive,  bul  yet  very  effective  political  in- 
fluence. 

It  is  ;i  fact,  however,  thai   loans  by  American  capital- 
ists, without  the  guarantee  of  the  American  Government, 
not   the  best   form  in  which  this  economic  aid  could  be 
rendered. 


19 

The  sad  example  of  the  trusts  established  in  the 
United  States  show  that  capitalists  are  heartless,  even 
where  the  welfare  of  their  own  countrymen  is  concerned. 
Once  in  their  clutches,  Central  America  would  become, 
sooner  or  later,  what  Costa  Rica  is  now  on  account  of  its 
concessions  to  the  United  Fruit  Company,  but  as  already 
stated  economic  aid,  rendered  in  a  desirable  manner, 
is  the  most  effective  way  to  secure  peace  in  Nicaragua  and, 

little  bv  little,  in  all  of  Central  America. 

Nicaragua  wishes  and  has  need  of  a  loan  of  §15,000,- 
000,  under  the  protection  of  the  American  Government. 
It  would  use  §5,000,000  in  the  payment  of  the  English 
debt  and  §10,000,000  in  the  founding  of  a  national  bank, 
to  be  established  in  Managua,  with  a  capital  of  $40,000,000 
of  paper  money,  the  ten  millions  in  gold  being  deposited 
in  the  treasury  of  the  bank.  The  United  States  lenders 
should  have  a  representative  in  the  board  of  directors  at 
Managua,  and  the  American  Government  another  repre- 
sentative on  the  same  board.  The  revenues  of  Nicaragua 
should  be  collected  by  this  bank,  which  would  also  dis- 
burse the  national  expenditures,  and  a  sufficient  balance 
would  remain  to  be  devoted  to  several  works  of  progress, 
such  as  the  Kama  Railway,  the  Matagalpa  Railway,  and 
the  opening  of  the  large  Atlantic  rivers.  Let  these  rail- 
ways be  national,  and  let  neither  I  lie  United  Fruit,  or  any 
other  trust  from  the  north,  come  to  assist  us  to  build 
them  and  kill  Nicaraguan  industry. 

I  believe  that  the  American  government  on  account  of 
the  morality  and  prosperity  of  its  people,  which  ought  to 
be  the  first  concern  of  every  government,  would  be  more 
willing  to  patronize  this  method  of  affording  protection  to 


20 

Nicaragua,  than  thai  of  introducing  corporations,  since 
in  the  United  States  themselves  the  government  is  now 
endeavoring  to  cure  the  body  politic  of  the  terrible  trust- 
cancer  from  which  it  is  now  suffering  and  by  reason  of 
which  tlic  United  States  are  presenting,  indisputably,  the 
greatest  symptom  of  decadence  which  this  great  nation 
has  as  yet  exhibited  to  the  world. 

As  I  have  hereinbefore  suggested,  the  United  States 
may  desire  the  conquest  of  Nicaragua,  or  it  may  desire 
the  formation  of  a  republic  thai  shall  ultimately  form 
pari  of  the  American  Union.  In  either  case,  protection 
initiated  by  the  present  government  of  the  United  States 
is  desirable,  in  order  that  in  the  future  no  new  strug- 
gles may  supervene  against  capital.  The  railways  also 
should  be  national  works,  so  that  the  people  may  not 
incur  the  danger  of  paying  tribute  to  the  extortions  of 
capita]   for  the  transportation  of  merchandise. 

The  government  of  the  United  States  being,  then,  an 
honorable,  civilizing  and  powerful  government,  the 
course  it  has  assumed  with  respect  to  its  economic  in- 
fluence in  Central  America  confirms  its  character.  This 
generous  and  civilizing  influence  can  only  be  spurned 
by  those  in  Nicaragua,  or  other  Central  American  coun- 
tries,  who  rely  only  upon  militarism  to  obtain  power, 
and  upon  the  national  treasuries  to  enrich  themselves. 

VIII. 

As  already  stated,  the  American  Government  has  not 
always  done  the  best  thing  in  the  matter  of  intervention 
in  the  policies  and  government   of  Central  America. 

At    the  time  of  the  unjustifiable  war  which  Zelaya 


21 

forced    upon    Eonduras,   the   United   States  could    have 

prevented  ii  ;  ami  after  the  outrage  of  the  Momotombo 
againsl  Acajutla,  the  United  States  was  obliged,  with 
the  consenl  of  the  oilier  Central  American  governments, 
to  demand  the  retirement  of  Zelaya,  as  his  governmenl 
was  harmful  to  civilization  and  to  the  interests  of  the 
United  States  as  well  as  those  of  Central  America.  The- 
American  Government,  however,  accepting  the  idea  of 
the  Washington  conventions,  favored  and  really  saved 
Zelaya,  who  for  three  years  Longer  exploited  the  poor 
Nicaraguan  people.  The  civil  war  that  began  at  Blue- 
fields  in  October,  !!)<)!),  was  necessary  to  drive  him  from 
power.  The  Washington  governmenl  then  corrected  its 
mistake  by  morally  favoring  the  revolution,  making  the 
notable  declarations  of  the  Knox  note,  and  by  not 
recognizing  the  governmenl  of  Madriz,  which  would  have 
been  l>iii   an  extension  of  the  Zelaya  regime. 

In  like  manner  the  pressure  brought  againsl  Zelaya 
on  account  of  the  Emery  claim  was  quite  justifiable. 
The  grounds  of  this  claim  are  not  generally  known.  The 
Emerv  establishment  was  hound  by  contract  not  to  sell, 
assign  or  lend  to  any  person  or  company  any  merchan- 
dise which  the  Government  permitted  the  Emery  Com- 
pany to  import  fr^e  of  duty  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
Company,  under  a  penalty,  for  violation,  of  double  the 
value  of  the  sale.  One  day  Jose  Dolores  Gamez,  taking 
advantage  of  his  influence,  obtained  from  Emery  $11,000 
worth  of  food  supplies  and  other  material  which  he  and 
Zelaya  required  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  survey  of 
lands  on  the  Atlantic  Coast.  This  was  followed  by  other 
demands  for  cash,  until  the  Emery  Company,  which  was 


.>.> 


Dot  promptly  paid,  refused  to  supply  the  wants  of  the 
Nicaragua!]  dictator  and  of  his  favorite.  Then  Zelaya 
caused  the  appointment  of  an  Arbitration  board,  in  ac^ 
cordance  with  the  penal  stipulation  of  the  contract, 
claiming  from  Emery  double  the  value  of  the  goods 
furnished.  Gamez  sent  his  nephew  to  Bluefields  as  at- 
torney for  the  Nicaragua!]  government,  compensating 
him,  as  was  customary  in  those  days,  with  a  liquor  con- 
cession which  was  sold  for  $9,000  gold. 

This  method  of  making  payments  with  State  prop- 
erty could  hardly  be  more  scandalous,  especially  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  the  very  parties  who  benefited  by  the 
transactions  with  the  house  of  Emery  were  plaintiffs 
against  the  Company.  The  arbitrators  decided  against 
Emery,  and  the  fine  was  immediately  paid.  But  the  at- 
torney for  the  Government  demanded  more,  that  is  to 
say,  he  claimed  the  forfeiture  of  the  contract.  Emery 
presented  documents  proving  payment  to  Zelaya,  on  ac- 
count of  the  concession,  for  three  years  in  advance,  and 
the  board  of  arbitration  declared  that  nothing  further 
could  be  done  pending  those  three  years.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  this  period  the  government  of  Zelaya  moved 
against  Emery,  and  without  any  previous  legal  proceed- 
ings or  any  new  arbitration,  took  possession  of  every- 
thing. 

Such  was  the  origin  of  the  claim  which  has  cost  the 
people  of  Nicaragua  $600,000  gold,  because  it  is  the  na- 
tion which  pays  in  the  end,  not  Zelaya,  who  is  enjoying 
its  money  in  Belgium,  not  Gamez,  who  is  spending  it  in 
San  Salvador,  not-  Gamez's  nephew,  who  is  even  now  a 
diplomatic  employee  of  the  Government  of  Nicaragua, 


23 

nor  yet  the  Nicaragua!]  lawyer  who  after  the  Lapse  of 
the  three  years  demanded  the  forfeiture  of  the  contract, 
who  is  now  ;i  judge  in  the  supreme  court  of  Managua, 
and  who  received  $10,000  silver  in  payment  for  those 
services  which  were  so  ruinous  to  the  country. 

There  is  no  doubl  thai  these  crimes  should  be  pun- 
ished. The  Emery  claim  was  just  and  the  |600,000  gold 
should  be  paid.  The  debtor,  however,  is  certainly  not  the 
nation,  but  rather  its  unworthy  employees.  Unfortu- 
nately, Nicaragua  has  neither  public  opinion,  law  or 
justice.  When  I  was  a  Representat  ive  in  the  first  Assem- 
bly al  Managua,  I  introduced  a  hill  for  the  prosecution 
of  Zelaya  and  his  accomplices;  but  all  of  the  interests 
created  by  the  government  of  the  Dictator,  now  repre- 
sented by  several  of  his  friends,  strongly  opposed  any 
act  ion  of  this  character. 

And  ii  is  now  the  fact  that  the  former  courtiers  of 
Zelaya,  skilful  in  intrigue  and  adept  at  bargains,  are 
excluding  patriots  from  the  government  and  even  expell- 
ing them  from  the  country,  and  are  again  grasping  the 
national  treasury.  The  Zelaya  regime  has  brought  the"" 
country  to  such  a  serious  condition  of  illness  that  it 
seems  impossible  to  find  a  remedy.  If  the  United  States 
Government  would  intervene  to  free  us  from  such  scan- 
dalous depredations  and  establish  a  government  of 
justice  and  morality,  thus  dignifying  law  and  truth,  its 
intervention  would  be  a  thousand  times  blessed;  but  to 
sustain  tyrants  and  military  ignoramuses,  as  has  been 
done  occasionally,  undoubtedly  through  error,  no,  no,  a 
thousand  times  no. 


24 


For  this  reason  ii  is  of  the  utmost  necessity  to  bring 
the  farts  i.i  the  knowledge  of  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  and  to  inform  them  of  the  true  social  and 
political  conditions  of  Nicaragua. 

These  truths  show  that  the  evil  lies  in  the  venality 
of  the  politicians  of  Central  America,  not  in  the  patience 
of  the  people  in  supporting  them,  for  it  cannot  be  denied 
that  during  the  seventeen  Years  of  Zelava's  government 
the  people  were  continually  in  arms  against  it,  and  that 
in  order  to  overthrow  Zelaya  some  memorable  actions 
wcic  performed  by  the  revolution  of  Bluefields. 

of  course  it  is  al  once  manifest  that  if  the  United 
States  would  assist  us  to  open  banks,  railways  and 
schools,  improvement  would  be  rapid,  and  the  people  of 
Central  America  ami  of  the  United  Stales  would  benefit 
thereby,  as  they  would  have  good,  large  markets  for  their 
indnst  rv. 

\\hat  is  most  urgently  needed  in  Central  America  is 
io  prepare  men  for  the  work  of  government.  Unfortu- 
nately such  men  do  not  exist  there.  Many  of  those  who 
claim  power  by  reason  of  having  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Tisma  or  Acoyapa,  are  unable  to  read  or  write, 
and  if  they  were  examined  like  school  children  they 
would  not  be  aide  to  answer  anything  about  geography 
or  mathematics,  and  much  less  about  political  or  social 
science  which  is  so  necessary  in  managing  men  and  coun- 
tries. Almost  all  of  our  military  men  are  familiar  with 
but  one  way  to  settle  difficulties;  the  one  adopted  in 
Asia  by  Alexander  when  he  severed  tin.'  Gordian  Knot 
with  his  sword. 


25 


Speaking  generally,  an  aversion  to  truth  is  another 
singular  characteristic  of  Latin  society.  Let  the  Saxon, 
then,  teach  us  to  keep  the  plighted  word,  by  example  and 
education.  This  teaching  will  not  be  understood  by  the 
older  generations,  bul  will  be  absorbed  by  the  children, 
and  ii  is  these  that  represent  the  future. 

Institutions  like  the  Courl  of  Carthage,  or  the  [inter- 
national Office  of  Guatemala,  will  not  lead  to  good  gov- 
ernment in  Central  America,  because  in  the  present  state 
of  Centra]  America  it  would  be  very  difficult  to  find  five 
judges  capable  of  setting  aside  their  local  prejudices  and 
rivalries.     Facts  have  proved  t his  assertion. 

Furthermore,  private,  political  or  national  interests 
confuse  the  judgment  of  man.  Judges  in  Central 
America  won  Id  be  able  in  but  very  few  cases  to  decide 
justly  in  matters  involving  Central  America.  This  could 
not  be  said  of  a  court  established  in  Washington,  com- 
posed of  American  citizens  of  high  reputation,  chosen 
for  each  case,  organized  as  a  permanent  body.  I  be- 
lieve that  the  majority  of  Nicaraguans  would  submit  with 
much  more  grace  to  a  judgment  rendered  by  a  United 
States  judge  than  to  one  rendered  by  a  judge  of  their 
own  count rv. 

Among  the  Washington  conventions  there  is  one 
which,  in  my  judgment,  is  worth  them  all;  that  is  the 
agreement  for  a  Central  American  Pedagogic  Institute. 
This  measure,  which  is  worthy  of  all  praise  and  ought 
to  have  been  immediately  carried  out,  has  never  been 
acted  upon.  The  first  stone  has  not  been  cut  for  the 
building,  [f  the  amount  expended  for  the  Court  of  Car- 
thage,  the  International  Office,  and  the  maintenance  of 


26 

ministers  in  the  capitals  of  Central  America,  had  been 
devoted  to  the  creation  of  the  Pedagogic  Institution,  Cen- 
tral America  would  already  enjoy  the  prospeel  of  true 
civilization,  provided  the  American  Government  would 
lull   furnish  teachers,  tools  and  materials  for  teaching. 

In  the  discussions  of  the  Central  American  congress 
held  ;ii  Washington,  statesmen  of  the  United  States 
allowed  themselves  to  l>e  misled  by  the  words  of  Central 
American  politicians,  and  did  not  exhibit  that  practical 
spirit    for  which  their  face  is  distinguished. 

When  it  is  desired,  in  the  United  States,  to  direct  the 

I pie  into  a  certain  path,  resort   is  had  to  the  schools. 

Why  is  not  the  same  thing  done  in  Central  America? 
The  agreements  were  signed  in  1907.  The  year  1908 
could  have  been  devoted  to  the  building  of  the  Institute; 
ii  would  now  be  in  operation,  and  a  hundred  pupils 
from  each  Central  American  republic,  all  educated  upon 
like  principles  and  upon  the  basis  of  a  common  ideal, 
would  be  in  training  to  contribute  to  the  development 
and  progress  of  our  people.  These  agreements  have 
brought  i  i  ns  but  one  more  disappointment  and  failure; 
and  to  render  this  nil  the  more  poignant,  the  very  per- 
sons w'ho  signed  the  agreements  are  now  working  against 
American  influences  in  Nicaragua  and  Honduras.  There 
is  do  necessity  for  mentioning  names. 

IX. 

Aside  from  all  these  arguments,  which  are  manifestly 
based  upon  sociology  and  the  inevitable  and  peremptory 
laws  of  human  civilization,  another  reasonable  ground 
exists  for  intervention  by  the  United  States  in  the  poli- 
tics of  Centra]  America  and  in   its  republican  life. 


27 


The  obligations  and  duties  which  our  nation  con- 
tracts always  draw  after  them  reciprocal  duties. 

The  Monroe  Doctrine,  now  universally  recognized  as 
a  principle  of  the  United  States  Government,  has  im- 
posed upon  tin's  nation  a  multitude  of  obligations  which 
continually  occasion  it  difficulties  and  dangers.  The  re- 
publics of  Centra]  America  have  derived,  and  still  de- 
rive, greal  benefit  from  this  doctrine.  Their  indepen- 
dence, like  the  independence  of  .Mexico,  could  not  have 
been  maintained  without  the  powerful  help  of  the  I'nited 
States.  Our  national  life,  however  precarious  or  anarch- 
ical it  may  have  been,  would  have  been  very  quickly 
snuffed  nut  if  the  Tinted  States  had  left  us  exposed  to 
our  own  solitary  efforts  to  maintain  existence. 

Spain,  even  in  its  fallen  state,  England,  France  or 
Germany,  would  have  conquered  us,  if  those  wise  and 
prophetic  words  of  Monroe,  inspired  by  the  sincere  and 
profound  sentiment  of  a  great  nation,  had  not  been  ele- 
vated to  the  category  of  a  fundamental  law  of  the  Xew 
World. 

Nicaragua  was  the  first  to  benefil  by  this  doctrine. 
The  reincorporation  of  the  Mosquito  Land  was  arranged 
ami  accomplished  through  negotiations  with  England, 
carried  on  by  the  great  Republic;  and,  even  now,  under 
the  Government  which  resulted  from  the  Revolution  of 
Bluefields,  the  economic  liberty  of  the  Republic  is  sought 
to  be  achieved  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  .Mixed 
Commission,  a  work  which  imposes  new  duties  upon  the 
United  States,  and  which  must,  undoubtedly,  produce 
new  rights  tinder  the  law  of  compensation. 


28 


Zelaya  bad  involved  the  country  to  an  astounding  de- 
gree with  contractors  and  companies,  English,  French, 
German,  Italian  and  United  Slates.  The  first  act  of 
justice  performed  by  the  Government  at  Washington,  in 
this  respect,  was  the  grading  of  all  of  these  contracts,  both 
European  and  North  American.  It  refused  to  favor  its 
own  citizens  in  any  unjust  claims,  an  action  which  un- 
doubtedly speaks  very  highly  in  favor  of  the  sincerity  of 
its  policy. 

A unmg  those  contracts,  so  ruinous  to  Nicaragua,  is 
thai  of  the  lease  of  the  national  railways  and  steani- 
ships,  made  by  the  Zelaya  government  to  Mr.  Julio  Weist, 
a  German  subject,  whose  principal  partner  was  Zelaya 
himself.  Zelaya's  son-in-law,  Joaquin  Pasos,  held  all  of 
the  bonds  of  this  company  and  exercised  control  of  it  on 
behalf  of  his  father-in-law.  Neither  Zelaya  nor  Weist 
expended  any  of  their  own  personal  funds  in  the  enter- 
prise The  entire  business  consisted  in  the  grabbing  of 
national  property  for  the  purpose  of  dividing  the  profits. 

As  the  present  government  of  Nicaragua  annulled 
these  contracts,  so  that  the  question  of  their  legality 
mighl  be  submitted  to  the  Mixed  Commission,  the  Ger- 
tnan  Government  wanted  l<>  institute  a  claim  on  behalf  of 
its  subject.  Some  nations  do  not  inquire  into  the  justice 
or  injustice  of  claims,  but  simply  look  to  the  quality  of 
the  claimant.  If  the  government  of  Nicaragua  was  not 
protected  by  l he  American  Government,  German  war- 
ships would  already  be  at  Corinto,  and  Niearagua  would 
be  compelled  to  "stand  and  deliver,"  as  the  phrase  goes  in 
modern  international  law.    We  were  saved  by  the  United 


29 


States.     Eave  we  the  righl  to  deny  to  the  United  States 
the  right  of  intervention  in  our  internal  affairs?    By  no 

means. 

But  Ave  have  the  right,  the  supremely  human  right, 
based  upon  civilization,  to  ask,  nay,  even  to  demand,  thai 
the  Nicaraguan  Government  shall  be  a  government  <>f 
legality  and  order,  and  that  in  no  case  shall  tin'  United 
States  support  tyranny.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  spirit 
of  the  Knox  note  may  be  raised  to  the  dignity  of  a  prin- 
ciple of  government,  like  the  .Monroe  Doctrine,  and  that 
it  may  be  proclaimed  frankly  in  the  face  of  the  entire 
world.  There  are  no  reasons  for  concealing  this  tendency 
of  American  politics,  as  no  power  can  objecl  to  the  reign 
of  order  and  liberty.  This  current  is  so  powerful  and 
displays  so  much  energy  that  even  should  a  democrat  be 
elected  President  of  the  United  States,  the  stream  would 
have  to  run  its  course  through  its  own  momentum  and 
by  reason  of  the  demands  of  civilization.  __ 

It  would  be,  indeed,  a  very  grand  and  beautiful  thing 
for  us,  Central  Americans,  to  be  able  to  regulate  our 
own  destiny  through  our  own  strength  alone.  I  have  en- 
tertained  the  illusion  that  after  reverses  and  disappoint- 
ments, we  might  arrive,  like  other  nations,  at  the  goal 
of  stable  national  government;  but,  unfortunately,  civ- 
ilization cannot  wait,  and  the  whole  world  is  in  agita- 
tion, seeking  land,  air  and  sun.  The  Old  World  is  full; 
the  United  States  are  filling;  mankind  scatters  itself, 
like  a  seed,  upon  the  surface  of  the  planet  through  the 
operation  of  the  inevitable  and  omnipotent  law  of  life. 
Who  can  control   the  sea?      Every   day,   therefore,   good 


30 

government  in  Central  America  is  more  and  more  urgent, 
so  that  immigrants  may  have  proper  guarantees  for  life 
and  property,  and  so  that  the  United  States  may  not  be 
continually  obliged  to  intervene,  and  even  to  defend  the 
territory  of  Central  America,  by  reason  of  the  duties 
springing  from  the  Monroe  Doctrine. 

The  American  Government,  however,  should  not  per- 
mit itself  to  become  possessed  of  the  fatuous  desire  to 
correct  the  older  generations  of  Central  America.  The 
grave  alone  can  cure  them.  It  were  a  herculean  (ask, 
and  the  world   is  done  with  legends. 

The  future  is  at  school  and  with  the  infant  genera- 
tion. As  far  as  true  government  is  concerned,  we  are 
merely  at  the  opening  of  the  path  leading  to  honorable 
economic  administration,  not  exploitation;  the  path  of 
frank  and  energetic  suggestion,  and  the  ignoring  of 
all  governments  resulting  from  military  insolence  or 
fraudulent  elections  subversive  of  the  rights  of  the  peo- 
ple. Then  will  come  I  Ik-  time  when  the  suffrage  shall  not 
he  exercised  by  soldiers,  but  by  citizens  conscious  of  their 
duties. 


The  United  States  are  already  responsible,  in  the 
ey<'s  of  the  world,  for  things  and  events  in  Central 
America.  The  .Monroe  Doctrine,  linked  with  the  Knox 
note,  has  placed  the  great  Republic  in  this  situation;  and 
in  order  to  comply  with  ils  duty  there  is  no  middle  term: 
the  only  course  is  intervention,  not  more  or  less  hesitat- 
ing,  lint  open  and  determined,  based  upon  high  ideals  of 
justice  and  humanity,  and  always  directed  towards  the 
grand  object  of  North  American  federation. 


While  the  new  generations  are  receiving  education, 
the  United  States  could  assist  and  direel  Central  Amer- 
ica along  the  lines  and  in  the  practices  advocated  b\  the 
genius  of  Washington,  the  greatest  of  North  America! 
thai  is  to  say,  in  the  selection  of  men.  The  Father  of 
his  Country  always  sought  out  the  mosl  honorable  men 

The  law  of  selection  is  the  l.-iw  of  indefinite  perfi 
lion  in  the  physical  as  well  as  in  the  moral  world.  Ac- 
cording to  Darwin,  the  animals  even  obey  ii  ;  and  s  >eiol- 
ogy  shows  that  in  the  domain  of  government  the  moral 
world  rests  upon  the  material.  The  laws  of  universal 
creation  and  of  organized  beings  are  the  verv  laws  that 
govern  society. 

X. 

What  is  the  duty  of  all  parties,  Republicans  and  Dem- 
ocrats in  the  United  States,  as  well  as  of  the  Liberals  and 
Conservatives  in  Central  America? 

What  is  the  highest  duty  of  the  Government  at  Wash- 
ington, and,  in  turn,  of  the  governments  of  Central 
America? 

I  understand,  and  it  is  a  teaching  of  science,  that  the 
highest  dutv  of  men,  parties,  governments  and  nations, 
is  that  of  aiming  at  perfection,  to  wish  for  ii  and  to  love 
it  with  persevering  will.  All  beings  and  things  tend 
toward  creation  and  perfection,  and  the  social  creation 
cannot  endure  unless  founded  upon  morality.  The  Roman 
Empire,  like  other  ancient  nations,  disappeared  worm- 
eaten  by  its  own  vices  and  excessive  wealth,  and  not  so 
much  on  account  of  invasion  \>\  the  barbarians  No  law 
of  conduct  better  expresses  justice  and  equality  than  the 


32 

sublime  maxim  attributed  to  our  Saviour:  Do  unto 
others  as  you,  would  hare  them  do  unto  you.  The  people 
of  the  United  States  and  their  lawful  representative,  the 
Government,  are  therefore  under  the  imperative  obliga- 
tion to  do  in  Nicaragua  as  they  would  have  others  do  unto 
them.  If,  in  this  country,  justice  is  administered,  wise 
laws  exist  and  schools  are  fostered  to  bring  up  youth  in 
such  a  state  of  vigor  that  it  can  live  of  its  own  initiative, 
it  is  but  just  to  desire  and  to  ask  that  Nicaragua  and  the 
rest  of  Central  America  should  be  blessed  with  similar 
conditions  of  life  and  prosperity.  Were  it  so,  the  Span- 
ish race  would  lose  all  cause  for  distrust. 

In  the  United  States  the  law  is  paramount;  the  just 
man  finds  honor,  the  sentiments  of  the  great  Washington 
are  embodied  in  the  hearts  of  the  citizens;  property  and 
life  are  respected,  while  individual  liberty  is  assured  to 
the  extent  necessary  for  the  welfare  of  all.  Let  us,  then, 
desire  for  ourselves  a  similar  measure  of  progress,  and 
that  the  United  States  might  assist  us,  willingly  and  in 
good  faith,  as  it  is  now  doing,  for  neither  President  Taft 
nor  Secretary  Knox  has  done  any  act  prejudicial  to  our 
country.  Let  us  wish  that  violence  might  find  no  place 
among  our  people;  that  ignorance  and  vice  might  not 
seize  the  public  offices  and  that  relations  between  the 
United  States  and  Central  America  might  rest  upon  the 
mutual  foundation  of  progress  and  liberty. 

It  may  be  thought  that  these  aspirations  are.  at  least 
to  a  large  extent,  Utopian. 

Selfishness,  the  most  powerful  of  human  incentives, 
always  appears  in  opposition  to  the  realization  of  such 
wishes  in  the  ideal  way;  and  it  is  precisely  for  this  reason 


:::: 

that  the  governmenl  should  be  in  the  hands  of  the  beat 
element,  proper  selection  having  been  made  from  among 
those  best  fitted  for  the  work.  This  was  the  practice  ol 
the  first  president  of  this  greal  country. 

Selection  was  Washington's  advice;  and  it  was  also 
that  of  Franklin.  It  is  necessary  to  select  men,  to  select 
all  the  time,  and  to  teach  the  people  the  difficult  task  of 
making  wise  selection.  There  is  in i  better  way  in  which 
this  teaching  can  be  accomplished  than  by  educating  the 
young  generations  in  a  profound  love  for  truth  and  jus- 
tice, so  that  they  may  practice  these  virtues  during  their 
entire  lives  as  the  most  agreeable  and  sacred  of  their 
social  duties. 

The  contrary  practice  is  exactly  the  greatest  evil  from 
which  Spanish  America  is  suffering,  that  is  to  say  prone- 
ness  to  falsehood  and  conventional  hypocrisy.  The  true 
and  just  man  among  ns  is  destined  to  martyrdom,  be- 
cause he  is  not  understood,  and  because  he  is  hated  by  in- 
dividuals and  by  the  multitude.  These  rices  are  incul- 
cated in  the  home  and  in  the  schools  where  children  are 
brought  up  in  fear  of  denouncing  rice  and  with  an  aver- 
sion to  work,  especially  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil. 

To  correct  our  social  defects  it  is  accessary  that  edu- 
cation be  imparted  by  English  or  United  States  teachers, 

as  truth  is  their  pre-eminent  virtue.    Teachers  to  sine i 

them  could  be  formed  from  the  present  and  the  coming 
Central  American  generations,  by  means  of  education  in  a 
large  pedagogic  institute  supported  by  the  United  States, 
Guatemala,  Salvador,  Honduras,  Nicaragua,  Costa  Rica 
and  Panama.     There  could  be  live  hundred   pupils  from 


34 


each  country,  nil  of  I  hem  beginning  under  eight  years  of 
age,  so  that  they  would  enter  the  establishment  uncon- 
taminated  by  any  fixed  vices.  Some  place  in  the  United 
States  should  be  selected  for  this  institution,  because  the 
environment  would  educate  better  than  all  else.  The  fu- 
ture teachers  of  Central  America  would  be  reared  in  the 
midst  of  fields  cultivated  with  United  States  implements 
and  machinery,  in  building  bridges  and  aqueducts,  rail- 
ways and  automobiles,  learning  to  select  cattle  and 
seeds,  and  studying  English  and  Spanish,  which  are  des- 
tined to  fraternize  in  the  new  world. 

From  this  Institute  would  come,  later,  the  professors 
for  the  other  six  establishments  to  be  thereafter 
founded,  one  for  each  of  the  Central  American  States,  in 
their  respective  capitals  or  elsewhere,  conducted  upon 
the  same  plan  and  having  the  same  ideals  and  tendencies, 
and  furnished  with  machinery  and  tools  from  the  United 
States  of  America.  This  would  be  the  very  best  propa- 
ganda for  the  commerce  and  industry  of  this  country. 

And,  like  the  school  of  Pestalozzi  in  Germany,  the 
seed  would  go  on  germinating  from  the  Canal  to  Canada, 
extending  with  astonishing  fecundity  to  the  horizons  of 
Central  and  North  America,  filling  up  the  corners  and 
teaching  the  latest  improvements.  Within  a  quarter  of  a 
century,  revolution  and  tyranny  would  be  a  thing  of  the 
past  in  Central  America. 

At  the  same  time,  above  all  things  open  the  Pan-Amer- 
ican or  Pan-North  American  railway,  financed  by  the 
Hi i ted  States  like  the  Panama  Canal,  for  the  establish- 
ment of  colonies  along  its  line  in  the  fecund  hills  and 


35 

sheltered  vales  of  Central   America  where  the  Parmer's 
hand  is  BO  Badly  needed. 

This  would  be  ;i  method  of  conquest  and  expansion 
never  dreamt  <>r  in  past  ages.  Could  anything  grander 
and  at  the  same  time  more  practical  be  desired?  Would 
this  be  a  Utopia? 

From  the  various  important  points  on  thai  greal  pail- 
way,  brandies  built  by  eaeh  Central  American  republic 
would  run,  thus  extending  the  system  and  increasing  the 
commercial,  industrial  and  political  relations  of  the 
countries.  The  United  States  would  own  the  spinal  col- 
umn of  such  an  organism,  while  the  Central  American 
countries  would  possess  the  other  members,  arteries  ;md 
veins.  The  day  would  not  be  far  distant  when  the  pulsa- 
tions and  sentiments  of  the  new  organism  would  create 
the  soul  of  a  great  North  American  entity  reaching  from 
the  Canal  to  the  borders  of  Canada,  and,  perhaps, 
through  future  treaties  with  England,  it  may  yet  stretch 
northward  to  the  pole. 

This  is  not  a  dream.  The  millions  of  people  in  tie- 
United  States  require  occupation  and  seek  it  eagerly, 
with  machines  that  level  mountains,  carve  oul  tunnels 
under  hills  and  waters,  and  build  bridges;  they  march; 
they  fly;  they  navigate  from  one  end  of  the  land  to  the 
other  bearing  civilization  on  the  prow  of  the  vessel  and 
light  upon  the  flag  that  flutters  from  their  masts. 

The  diplomatic  ministers  of  the  United  States  could 
aid  us  in  the  selection  of  men  for  the  arduous  task  of 
government;  bul  this  benign  influence  should  nol  be  exer- 
cised  except  by     North     Americans    of    irreproachable 


36 


character,  having  acquaintance  with  our  nationalities, 
and  free  from  all  immoderate  or  unlawful  ambitions — in 
a  word,  men  of  recognized  probity  of  character. 

Just  because  the  social  conditions  of  the  Central 
American  nations  is  so  difficult,  it  is  not  everyone  who 
could  serve  as  an  intermediary  between  those  nations 
and  the  government  of  the  United  States.  I  believe  that 
it  would  be  less  difficult  to  find  a  diplomat  capable  of 
arranging  differences  between  France  and  the  United 
States,  than,  for  example,  between  this  country  and 
Nicaragua.  In  our  country  various  personal  cliques  are 
active  and  hostile;  each  has  its  fetich  which,  as  a  gen- 
eral rule,  is  some  ignorant,  ambitious  military  man ;  pas- 
sions are  unbridled  and  private  interests  are  continually 
thrown  into  the  balance  of  public  affairs.  As  truth  is 
not  always  spoken,  and  he  who  utters  it  is  frequently 
calumniated,  the  diplomat  would  be  unable  to  determine 
the  man  of  high  character  if  he  listened  only  to  poli- 

* 

ticians  and  party  leaders. 

Would  it  not  certainly  be  a  calamity  to  our  countries, 
and  even  to  the  United  States,  if  the  representatives  of 
the  government  at  Washington  should  encourage  and 
protect  militarism  and  administrative  corruption  in  Cen- 
tral America,  as  has  sometimes  occurred,  always,  let  us 
hope,  by  mistake? 

Vice  and  corruption  can  create  nothing  good,  either 
for  the  weak  or  the  stronger  people.  This  is  a  truth  so 
pervading  that  there  is  hardly  one  of  the  ruinous  jobs 
of  Zelaya's  regime,  but  lias  had  United  States,  German, 
English  or  Italian  beneficiaries.     The  Zelayists,  in  their 


37 


concessions,  monopolies,  and  land  and  mine-grabbing 
operations,  always  availed  themselves  of  the  instrumen- 
tality of  foreigners.  Corruption  contaminated  the  bones 
of  both.  Inordinate  love  of  wealth  is  an  Infirmity  and  a 
symptom  of  death.  Rome  succumbed  amid  tin-  splendors 
of  Petronius  and  the  luxuries  of  Luculus.  Anthony  for- 
got his  count  ry  in  the  gardens  of  <  Jleopal  pa. 

XI. 

What  is  the  visible  trend  of  evolution  in  the  presenl 
age  and  what  is  the  role  of  the  United  States? 

The  rivers  of  the  earth  always  seek  slopes,  basins, 
vales,  gullies  or  watercourses  in  which  to  flow  to  the  sea; 
and  in  order  that  the  law  of  social  movement  mighl  bear 
more  likeness  to  the  laws  of  the  physical  world,  hu- 
manity also  selects  seas,  rivers,  canals,  so  that  ii  may 
all  the  more  easily  transport  itself  from  one  place  to 
another,  peopling  the  earth  and  contributing  to  the 
progress  of  the  race. 

from  mosi  remote  times,  the  human  tide  has  coursed 
through  seas  and  rivers  best  adapted  to  navigation  and 
the  transportation  of  men  and  merchandise,  or  of  ammu- 
nition for  use  in  the  work  of  conquest.  It  might  lie  said 
that  facilities  of  communication  have  directed  the  march 
of  the  social  world. 

The  Aryans  jumped  from  the  plains  of  Pamir  to  the 
Ganges  and  the  Indus,  later  crossing  the  Indian  sea  and 
the  .Mediterranean  to  establish  themselves  in  Greece  and 
Eome;  the  Hebrews  erected  their  tents  on  the  shores  of 
the  Euphrates;  and  by  a  singular  circumstance,  trulj 
felicitous  for  tin-  stmh   ut  sociology,  ila-  most   powerful 


275421 


38 


nations  bad  their  birth  and  growth  on  the  banks  of  large 
rivers  and  by  the  shores  of  the  sea. 

Egypt  on  the  banks  of  the  Nile,  whose  periodic  inun- 
dations suggested  great  works  and  monuments;  Greece, 
with  its  shores  bathed  by  the  waters  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean; Rome  built  upon  the  Tiber;  Constantinople  on 
the  Bosphorus ;  Paris,  with  open  navigation  on  the  Seine ; 
London,  piercing  the  gloom  of  the  fog  with  its  life  and 
light,  sailing  the  Thames,  welding  the  iron  and  extract- 
ing the  coal  from  its  mines;  Germany,  floating  upon  the 
Rhine;  and,  in  modern  times,  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica palpitating  upon  the  shores  of  the  Hudson,  the  Dela- 
ware, the  Potomac,  the  Missouri  and  the  Mississippi,  and 
around  the  great  lakes,  Erie,  Ontario,  Huron,  Michigan 
and  Superior ;  while  in  the  southern  extremity  of  the  con- 
tinent, the  Argentine  country  grows,  prospers  and  de- 
velops in  power,  in  the  reflection  of  its  wonderful  River 
Plate. 

But  the  merest  analysis  of  these  singular  geographic 
conditions  would  show  us  that  no  nation  of  the  world 
enjoys  greater  facilities  of  communication,  or  has  re- 
ceived more  permanent  suggestion  from  the  elements 
than  the  United  States  of  America.  It  is  sufficient  to 
glance  at  the  map  of  this  great  country,  or  visit  it,  in 
order  to  realize  that  the  people  of  the  United  States  find 
objective  instruction  everywhere  in  their  surroundings; 
they  beheld  the  course  of  the  ways  of  communication, 
and  appreciated  the  development  these  would  produce 
according  as  their  utilization  was  more  or  less  easy. 
This  admirable  geographic  condition,  more  than  any- 
thing else,  has  created  the  spirit  of  North  America,  has 


39 


produced  its  tendencies,  its  ideal,  its  evolution.  The 
arteries,  nerves  and  vessels  of  this  great  organism,  are 
its  rivers,  hikes,  seas  and  railways.  Through  them  it 
lives  and  grows  and  prospers  iii  a  manner  truly  mar- 
vellous. 

It  seems  as  if  nature  desired  to  be  prodigal  towards 
this  land,  placing  in  its  bosom  all  the  materials  where- 
with mankind  has  always  established  great  civilizations. 
Nature  also  favored  ii  with  mountains  of  iron  and  of 
coal,  that  is,  with  the  materials  which  its  mother,  Eng- 
land, used  to  elevate  herself  to  the  dignity  of  a  nation, 
and  of  which  Germany  and  Japan  have  availed  them- 
selves in  order  to  astonish  the  world. 

The  change  of  front,  the  march  of  human  society 
towards  federation  of  the  nations,  was  thus  enabled  to 
take  place  and  find  its  beginning  npon  the  continent  of 
North  America,  Fulton  initiating  it  with  the  steamship 
and  Franklin  with  electricity. 

And  as  alertness  of  perception  and  the  spirit  of  inter 
national  fraternity  grow  in  proportion  to  the  impulses 
of  the  human  organism,  which  are  the  more  potential 
according  as' the  vessels  and  arteries  ran  easily  and 
rapidly  conduct  Mood  to  the  heart,  i>.\  railway,  steam- 
ship or  telegraph,  spiritual  communication  was  estab- 
lished in  North  America,  bringing  in  its  wake  the  tend 
encv  toward  fraternity;  and  this  tendency  is  the  soul 
that  directs  and  conducts  the  definitive  evolution  of  the 
United  States.  There  is  not  a  town  in  this  -feat  coun- 
try which  does  not  perceive  the  pulsations  of  tl thers 

and  of  the  world  at  large,  transmitted,  as  the}  are,  by 
the  telegraph,  which  may  be  likened  to  the  nerves  of  the 
human  body. 


40 


The  earth  itself,  the  gentle  mother  earth,  adored  of  the 
Greeks,  forged  the  links  of  North  American  confedera- 
tion. Man  comes  and  learns;  he  touches  and  conceives; 
he  needs  and  he  creates.  In  the  war  of  secession  this 
truth  was  demonstrated  in  the  clearest  manner. 

As  at  that  time  this  immense  facility  of  communica- 
tion did  not  exist,  the  people  of  the  South  were  not  ac- 
quainted with  and  did  not  understand  the  people  of  the 
North.  The  hand  of  man  had  not  riven  the  mountains 
nor  drilled  the  rocks  for  the  construction  of  highways. 

Consequently,  North  American  evolution  which,  in 
the  end,  shall  guide  the  world,  is  already  visible,  although 
it  may  not  be  recognized  by  unenlightened  people.  And 
this  is  one  of  the  reasons,  and,  indeed,  the  most  cogent 
one,  why  we  should  permit  the  United  States  to  guide  us 
through  the  intricate  labyrinth,  in  the  same  way  as  the 
planets  are  guided  by  the  sun  in  the  center  of  the  system, 
larger  of  size  and  more  powerful,  with  the  force  of  univer- 
sal gravitation  glowing  in  its  fiery  breast. 

If  the  highest  aspiration  of  humanity  be  perfection; 
and  through  the  operation  of  exceptional  circumstances 
the  people  of  the  United  States  have  discovered  the  road, 
as  Columbus  discovered  the  New  World,  the  other  coun- 
tries of  America  must  necessarily  revolve  around  the  new 
sun  and  find  warmth  in  its  light,  all  travelling  together  to- 
wards Fraternity,  as  if  this  were,  for  the  social  world,  what 
the  Constellation  of  Hercules  is  for  the  planetary  system. 

This  is  a  duty,  the  performance  of  which  cannot  be 
neglected,  because  civilization  has  rights  which  nations 
and  men  must  respect.  Furthermore,  it  is  a  peremptory 
necessity  of  existence,  because  the  currents  of  prosperity 


41 

and  expansion  have  developed  in  the  United  States  in 
a  gigantic  manner,  and  are  already  Irresistible.  We  can- 
not do  otherwise  than  prepare  onr  baggage  and  purchase 

our  ticket  for  that  wonderful  voyage  over  the  ocean  of 
history  and  civilization  to  the  cities  of  the  United  Stat 
favorably  situated  on  the  stream,  travelling  also  in  rail- 
way l rains  and  steamships,  thus  contributing  with  some 
of  our  strength  to  the  irresistible,  supreme  evolut  ion.  At 
any  rale,  we  ought  to  be  an  atom  of  that  universal  spirit 
which  is  developing  before  onr  vision,  satellites  of  thai 
great  system,  docile  as  the  planets,  but  retaining  our  cen- 
trifugal power  that  the  equilibrium  may  be  sustained  and 
a  return  to  chaos  averted.  We  must  all  join  the  ranks 
and  march  along  to  the  tune  of  the  grand  law. 

In  this  manner  the  nations  of  Central  America  have 
a  clear  and  safe  road,  to  come  within  the  spline  of  the 
Colossus,  while  maintaining  at  the  same  time  their  in- 
dividual independence.  May  it  thus  attracl  as,  like  the 
sun  by  its  bulk,  but  without  attempting  to  deprive  u>  of 
the  right  of  life,  the  movement  of  rotation. 

Such  mutual  obedience  to  the  universal  Law  settles  the 
conflict  and  saves  the  independence  of  <  lent  pal  America. 

The  giant  is  also  under  the  unavoidable  obligation  of 
lending  his  strength  to  his  weaker  brothers,  in  accordance 
with  equity  and  justice,  in  order  to  contribute  to  the  ere 
ation  of  new  American  states,  powerful  and  free,  as 
prophesied  by  Monroe  when  he  proclaimed  his  Celebrated 
doctrine;  and  as  it  may  be  assumed  Tat't  and  Knox  desire 
with  reference  to  Nicaragua.  This  work  would  be  im- 
perishable; furthermore,  regarding  evolution  in  the 
United   States  from   this  high   point    of  view,   such   work 


42 


would  be  extremely  scientific ;  indeed,  it  might  be  said  to 
be  mathematic.  It  would  be  magnificent  and  sublime; 
not  a  work  of  conquest  and  destruction,  but  one  of  fra- 
ternity and  justice,  of  creation  and  transformation.  Let 
the  great  problem  be  solved,  that  problem  which  Home 
perceived  but  dimly,  which  ancient  and  modern  nations 
have  been  unable  to  work  out,  to  which  international 
congresses  have  been  devoting  their  attention,  and  which 
is  the  ardent  aspiration  of  humanity. 

Do  you  desire  universal  fraternity?  If  so,  do  not 
waste  time  in  assembling  congresses,  but  open  up  roads; 
place  men  and  nations  in  intercommunication;  organize 
a  social,  like  the  planetary  system.  Nature,  itself,  has 
given  us  its  lesson  in  the  grand  law  of  life  and  eternity. 
By  the  opening  of  roads  and  the  removal  of  obstacles 
which  impede  and  render  human  intercourse  more  diffi- 
cult, the  grand  confederation  of  the  nations  would  come 
at  last;  not  socialism  or  anarchy,  for  nothing  exists  or 
can  exist  in  the  universe  without  restraint,  law  and  gov- 
ernment. 

There  is  a  country  in  Central  America  which,  geo- 
graphically considered,  greatly  resembles  the  United 
States;  that  is  Nicaragua.  There  is  another  that  holds 
mountains  of  iron  in  its  bosom,  namely,  Honduras, 

On  the  Atlantic  coast  of  Nicaragua  there  are  navigable 
rivers  flowing  through  fertile  territory:  the  Segovia,  the 
Prinzapolka,  the  Grande,  the  Escondido  with  its  branches 
the  Rama  and  the  Siquia;  the  Cukra  and  the  San  Juan 
communicating  with  the  Grand  Lake.  This,  in  its  turn, 
is  connected  Avith  the  Lake  of  Managua,  by  means  of  the 
river  Tipitapa;  and  by  the  construction  of  canals  and  the 


43 

building  of  bars  ami  coves,  the  entire  country  could  be  tra- 
versed by  steamships  and  merchandise. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Bluefields,  when  its  large  and  spa- 
cious harbor  is  completed  like  thai  of  Pearl  Lake,  the  work 
that  William  Penn  did  on  the  Delaware  and  the  other 
immigrants  performed  In  the  various  States  of  the  Ameri- 
can Union,  may  he  commenced. 

At  the  same  time  railroads  could  be  laid  across  the 
country,  starting  from  Kama  or  Bluefields  from  the  river 
Grande  or  the  Segovia,  running  through  most  fertile  lands 
suitable  for  cultivation  and  cattle  raising,  having  abund- 
ant sold  in  the  subsoil  and  forests  of  rich  timber  available 
for  building  purposes. 

It  is  a  great  duty  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  these  coun- 
tries, so  that  justice  may  be  installed  in  them,  the  repub- 
lic firmly  established  and  immigration  made  possible. 
This  is  not  only  a  moral  duty  but  a  necessity  for  the 
United  States  which  are  filling  rapidly  with  the  human 
stream  coming  from  Europe  to  the  new  world  in  search 
of  life,   air  and    sunshine. 

There  seems  to  be  no  reason  whatever  why  the  Ameri- 
can Government  should  disguise  its  aims  and  plan  of  ex- 
pansion, if  they  look  inwards  this  grand  object  The  con- 
tinent has  understood  this;  and  as  this  objecl  is  benefi- 
cent to  mankind,  it  can  meet   with  no  censure  even   from 

the  old  nations  of  Europe,  because  in  opening  the  d "S 

of  America,  they  are  not  opened  solely  to  the  people  of 
the  North,  but  to  the  entire  world.  We  all  know  thai  the 
United  States  is  a  sort  of  sea,  receiving  the  human  streams 
that  flow  from  the  niher  side  of  the  Atlantic,  as  in  remote 
ages  the  Aryans  swarmed  from  Asia  into  Europe.    Were 


44 


the  primitive  inhabitants  of  Lacio,  Gaul  and  other  points 
able  to  restrain  the  biologic  movement  of  mankind?  They 
were  not;  just  as  it  was  not  possible  for  Colombia  to  pre- 
\i -at  itself  from  being  severed  in  twain  by  the  Canal,  and 
it  would,  likewise,  be  difficult  for  Central  America  to  pre- 
vent the  human  waves  from  pursuing  their  restless  flow 
and  constant  transformation.  Life  has  its  grand,  inex- 
orable laws. 

In  the  new  world,  the  union  of  races  and  nations  will 
be  effected  in  pursuance  of  the  evolution  now  in  progress 
in  the  United  States.  The  work  began  there;  it  is  going 
on  even  in  the  Argentine  Republic,  and  it  is  already  seek- 
ing new  lands  and  frontiers  for  expansion  and  perfection. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

The  following  subjects  should  be  discussed  and  de- 
cided in  a  new  congress  composed  of  representatives 
from  the  United  States,  Mexico,  Guatemala,  Salvador, 
Honduras,  Nicaragua,  Costa  Rica  and  Panama,  viz.: — 

I. — The  establishment  of  a  Permanent  Court  of 
Arbitration  in  Washington,  Boston  or  Philadelphia, 
composed  of  three  judges  and  three  substitute  judges,  to 
be  elected  by  the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  The  duty 
of  this  court  shall  be  to  adjust  all  questions  arising  be- 
tween the  signatory  countries.  The  judges  to  be  elected 
in ust  be  citizens  of  the  United  States.  If  the  United 
States  be  a  party  litigant,  the  matter  should  be  decided 
on  review  by  a  European  court  of  arbitration  upon  the 
application  of  one  or  more  of  the  republics  interested. 


45 


II. — Acknowledgmenl  of  the  righl  of  the  citizens  of 
all  and  any  of  the  signatory  countries  to  Institute  Buit, 
either  acting  by  themselves,  or  through  legal  op  other 
representatives,  in  the  Permanenl  Couri  for  any  viola- 
tion of  law,  despoliation  of  property  or  loss  of  life  com- 
mitted againsl  them  or  againsl  the  community  by  any 
of  the  governments. 

III. — Recognition  of  the  principles  of  the  Knox  note 
as  obligatory  international  doctrine,  like  the  Monroe 
Doctrine,  in  the  following,  or  somewhal   similar  terms: 

"The  United  States  and  the  other  signatory 
powers  will  consider  any  war  between  two  or 
more  countries  of  Xortb  America,  or  civil  war  in 
any  of  them,  and  all  attempts  ai  oppression  or 
tyranny  committed  against  the  nations  or  their 
citizens,  as  an  attack  againsi  the  commerce  and 
prosperity  of  North  America:  and  they  declare 
their  obligation  to  remedy  the  evil,  either  sever- 
ally or  jointly,  hereby  guaranteeing  the  continued 
maintenance  of  lawful  governments  respectful  of 
the  property  and  of  the  lives  of  the  people,  and 
also  the  suppression  of  usurpers  claiming  through 
cohjis  d'itat,  violence  in  elections  or  other  mani- 
fest fraud." 

This  doctrine,  it  is  undersl I,  is  simply  a  corollary 

of  the  Monroe  Doctrine.  If  the  United  States  are  obliged 
to  regard  as  an  act  of  hostility  committed  againsl  them 
any  attempt  to  oppress  any  independent  state  of  Amer- 
ica, as  also  any  foreign  intermeddling  in  American  mat- 


46 


ters,  they  should  likewise  assume  the  obligation  of  re- 
quiring the  lawful  succession  of  governments  respectful 
of  the  rights  of  persons,  whether  citizens  or  aliens. 

The  conduct  of  the  present  Government  of  the  United 
States  in  the  affairs  of  Nicaragua,  with  reference  to  the 
tyranny  of  Zelaya,  has  been  just  and  equitable,  and  it 
would  further  merit  the  approbation  of  all  of  the  nations 
of  America,  were  it  to  complete  the  good  work  by  banish- 
ing or  suppressing  any  despotism  following,  or  claiming 
to  succeed,  Zelaya's. 

IV. — The  American  government  shall  not  recognize 
as  lawful,  any  concessions,  monopolies  or  onerous  con- 
tracts granted  by  any  of  the  signatory  governments  to 
North  Americans  or  foreigners,  same  being  violations  of 
the  federal  laws  and  of  the  laws  of  free  commerce. 

This  principle  flows  from  the  preceding  one.  Jus- 
tice, like  charity,  must  begin  at  home.  The  evil  of 
monopolies  and  trusts  is  hurtful  to  the  weak  as  well  as 
to  the  powerful  nation.  It  is  sufficient  to  cite  the 
example  of  the  United  Fruit  Company  of  Costa  Rica  and 
Guatemala  with  its  monopoly  of  the  banana. 

Another  example,  even  more  evident,  is  that  of  the 
Bluefields  Steamship  Company,  to  which  Zelaya  granted 
the  exclusive  right  of  navigation  of  the  Escondido  River 
and  its  branches.  Both  natives  and  North  Americans 
rose  against  this  Company  in  a  memorable  strike,  and  it 
was  one  of  the  chief  causes  of  the  rebellion  against 
Zelaya.  The  new  government  of  Nicaragua,  with  the 
assistance  of  the  Mixed  Commission,  cancelled  the  con- 
tract; the  monopolist  company  is  now  combined  with 


47 

another  to  continue  tlu*  business,  seriously  prejudicing 
the  interests  of  honorable  Americans,  among  whom  11  Lb 
» sufficienl  to  mention  the  large  plantation  of  the  Laguna 
ilc  Perlas,  containing  1,500  manzanas  and  owned  by 
respectable  New  Yorkers.  The  owners  are  compelled  to 
sell  their  frail  at  such  price  as  the  two  monopolizing 
companies  choose  to  fix  for  it.  But  why  cite  other  exam- 
ples when  the  United  States  Government,  itself,  is  strug- 
gling to  remedy  the  evil  within  its  own  borders? 

V. — The  foundation  of  a  North  American  Pedaeoeic 
Institute,  supported  by  all  of  the  countries  signing  the 
convention.  This  Institute  to  be  on  United  States  soil 
so  that  the  students  may  have  the  benefit  of  the  environ- 
ment. 

VI. — The  establishment  of  a   similar   Institution   for 

women. 

VII. — The  obligation  of  Mexico.  Guatemala,  Hon- 
duras, Salvador,  Nicaragua,  Costa  Rica  and  Panama  to 

establish  oilier  similar  institutions  when  the  supply  of 
necessary  teachers  shall  have  been  prepared  by  the  first 
inst  itution. 

VIII. — The  foundation  of  national  banks  in  each  of 
the  signatory  republics  with  ten  or  twenty  millions  of 
dollars  gold  on  deposit  and  a  corresponding  issue  of  bank 
notes,  making  the  monetary  standard  the  same  as  that 
of  the  United  States,  and  under  the  guarantee  and  c.»u 
trol  of  the  government  of  this  country. 

These  banks  to  have  charge  of  the  general  treasury 
of  their  respective  countries,  that   is  to  say,   for  the  col 


48 

lection  of  the  revenues  and  the  payment  of  the  appropri- 
ations, and  for  the  payment  of  interest  upon  foreign  or 
internal  debts,  etc.,  etc.  A  representative  of  the  gov- 
ernment at  Washington,  a  representative  of  the  govern- 
ment of  the  country  to  which  the  bank  pertains  and  a 
representative  of  the  holders  of  outstanding  bonds  to 
compose  the  board  of  directors. 

IX. — The  construction  of  the  Pan-North  American 
Railway  for  account  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
without  any  larger  belt  of  land  upon  either  side  of  the 
line  than  may  be  necessary  for  the  management  and  use 
of  the  trains  and  other  accessories  of  the  enterprise. 

X. — The  building  of  branch  lines  from  the  Pan- 
North  American  trunk  line,  for  account  of  each  of  the 
signatory  countries,  within  their  own  territories. 

XI. — A  general  police  force  maintained  by  all,  for 
vigilance,   health,    etc. 

There  is  no  necessitv  for  adding  anv  more  reasons 
than  those  already  adduced.  The  object,  the  tendency,  is 
obvious.  Carried  into  practice,  agreements  such  as 
these  would  result  in  the  intimate,  spiritual  and  ma- 
terial progress  of  all  of  North  America,  and  in  the  ef- 
fective sovereignty  of  the  Central  American  Republics 
in  case  they  should  not  consider  it  a  more  beautiful 
thing,  and  one  of  greater  benefit  to  themselves,  to  enter 
the  great  North  American  federation,  towards  which 
those  nations  are  surely  tending  through  forces  devel- 
oped by  the  marvellous  discoveries  of  modern  times. 


l'.t 


EPILOGUE. 

The  precediog  pages  have  hardly  been  written,  when 
we  are  apprised  by  the  press  of  th<'  country  thai  even 
Presidenl  Taft,  himself,  is  seeking  to  mould  public  <»|»in- 
ion  in  the  direction  indicated  in  this  paper.  In  ;i  recent 
speech*  he  urged  the  people  to  bring  all  their  moral  in- 
fluence to  bear  upon  the  Senate  to  effect  the  ratification, 
not  only  of  the  international  peace  treaties,  bul  also  of 
the  agreements  made  with  Nicaragua  and  Honduras. 
Willi  his  usual  remarkable  clearness,  tin-  Presidenl  sees 
thai  the  cause  <»f  peace  upon  this  hemisphere  would  be 
best  conserved  by  the  confirmation  of  those  Central 
American  treaties;  ami  he  also  perceives  the  duty  of  the 
United  States,  arising  from  the  Monroe  Doctrine,  i<>  as- 
sist the  Central  America  Republics  along  the  path  lead- 
ing to  a  secure  national  existence  and  to  republican  lil»- 
erty  under  pacific,  constitutional  governments. 

The  President  also  emphasized  the  important  point 
that  such  assistance  to  the  Central  American  States 
should  he  of  an  economic  character,  declaring,  as  re- 
ported in  the  newspapers,  that  "if  the  United  States  in- 
sists upon  the  .Monroe  Doctrine,  it  should  also  he  will- 
ing to  help  the  republics,  as  was  done  with  Santo  Do- 
mingo, by  collecting  their  revenues  for  them  and  apply- 
ing these  revenues  to  the  payment  of  just  obligations." 


*At  Mountain  Lake  Park  I  Bid.),  Chautauqua,  Augusl  Mi.  1911. 


50 


Furthermore,  President  Taft,  in  his  message  to  Congress 
accompanying  the  Mcaraguan  Treaty,  says: 

"Better  by  far  is  this  beneficial  and  construct- 
ive policy  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Caribbean 
Sea,  the  Panama  Canal,  and  the  Central  American 
republics,  based  as  it  is  on  the  logic  of  our  geo- 
graphical position,  the  development  of  our  com- 
merce in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  our 
shores,  our  moral  responsibilities  due  to  a  long- 
standing policy  in  the  region  mentioned,  than  it 
is  with  listless  indifference  to  view  unconcern- 
edly the  whole  region  in  fomentations  of  turbu- 
lence, irresponsibility,  contracting  debts  that  by 
their  own  exertions  they  would  never  be  able  to 
discharge,  or  to  be  required,  as  in  several  in- 
stances in  the  past,  to  land  our  armed  forces  for 
the  protection  of  American  citizens  and  their  in- 
terest from  violence  and  for  the  enforcement  of 
the  humane  provisions  of  international  law,  for 
the  observance  of  which  in  the  region  concerned, 
tli is  Government,  whether  rightfully  or  wrong- 
fully, is  held  responsible  by  the  world." 

This  pamphlet  has  been  written  with  the  express 
object  of  propagating  this  particular  line  of  thought 
among  the  people  of  the  United  States.  It  is,  therefore, 
a  great  satisfaction  to  the  writer  to  find  that  he  is  so 
admirably  aided  in  this  effort  by  such  an  eminent  and 
reliable  statesman  as  the  President  of  this  great  Kepub- 
lic,  to  which  the  enlightened  people  of  our  own  commu- 
nities look  with  an  abiding  hope  for  the  future  welfare 
and  happiness  of  Central  America. 

[7083G] 


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